Steady growth for Rock River Valley retailers

Even though the jobs market has taken a step back in the second half of 2013, Rock River Valley shoppers have continued to open the wallet.

In September, the state collected $3.89 million in sales tax revenue from retailers in Boone, Ogle and Winnebago counties.

That was 1.8 percent above the $3.82 million collected in September 2012.

Retailers reported gains even though jobless rates were only marginally better in September than they were the year before.

The state collects 1 percent of every dollar spent in sales tax revenue and returns it to the municipality where it was spent.

Loves Park and Rockton saw year over year gains of more than 5 percent and Rockford's retail sales tax revenue was 1.9 percent higher than last year. That more than offset declines in Cherry Valley, Roscoe, Winnebago, Poplar Grove and Oregon.